Frictional draft-rigging.



PATENTED 00T. 29. 1907.

C. A. TWEB..

FRIGTIONAL DRAFT RIGGING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1907.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 1.

m .Nwnli yINVENTOR fmww.

WITNESSES PATENTBD OCT. 29. 1907.

C. A. TOWER. FRIGTIONAL DRAFT RIGGING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

INVENTOR WITNESSES No. 869,754. PATENTBD 00129. 1907. C. A. TOWER.

FRIGTIONAL DRAFT RIGGING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

WITNESSES Ainstr-nn .s-Tnrns .rnfrnsr orrron.

CLINTON A .*TOWER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO7 ASSIGNORTO NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FRICTIONAL DRAFT-RIGGING.

Specicatonof Letters' Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed January 2.4 1907. Serial No. 353,893.

Toall it may concern: Y

Be it knoWnthat-I. CLINTON A. TOWER. of Cleveland. Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented a new and use-v ful Frictional*Draft-Rigging, of which the 'following is a full, clear; and exact description, reference being had to ,the accompanying drawings, forming partA of this spcification, in whichp Figure l is a plan view'partly in section showing one form of my improved frictional draft rigging; Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation of the same on the line II--II of Fig. l;` Fig. 3 is'a cross section partially in elevation on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a detail view ofone of the followers; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan .view showing ay modified form and 'Fig 6 is a partial hori zumal-sectional view showing another form'of the invention.

In the drawings, 2 represents the yoke or strap; and 3 and 4 are front and rear follower plates', each arranged between shoes for followers 3, 3b and 4. 4b. The plates 3 and 4 are of less length than the distance between the side members 5 of the case. and each set of plates 3. 3a and 4, 4 is preferablyjgrooved or correspondingly corrugated .upon the meeting faces as shown in Fig. "2;

` ythese contacting faces extending transversely and preferably substantially at right angles to theline ofdraft and one or more springs 6is provided between the sets of followers.

their ends as shown at 7 site to each other as shown in Fig. l, so that the differential linkslO extend to opposite sides at the opposite ends of the draft-1igging. When a pulling force is exerted upon the coupler it' is transmitted by the yoke to the rear'follower 4b, which is pulled forwardly thereby `against the pressure of the spring or springs. The rear set of followers therefore moves forward and at the saine time, and owing to the differential link connection the shorter follower 4 is drawn between the followers 4a and 4b in a. direction transverse to the line of draft. It therefore moves laterally and sets up friction between its grooved faces and those of the followers 4EL and 4b The parts are kept in close frictional contact by the pressure of th(` spring; and the degree of friction may be `varied according to the nature of the use to which thel device is to be put, by properly determining the number and forni of the grooves on the faces of the pairs of followers and the number and capacity ofthe springs.

Tlie friction may also be varied by adjusting the angle of theidiffcriitial links. l

When a bufiing force is applied to the draft rigging the followers 4, 4a and 4b are held stationary bythe end ofthe case, while the yfront followers 3, 3f and 3b arev forced rearwardly against the springs. In this case the, A

followerS moves laterally in frictional 'contact with the followers 3a and 3b during the rearward movement.

In both bufting and draft the clamping action and the frictional `resistance'increase proportionately tothe stress on the parts and the increased force thus required to move the Iintermedia-te followers 3' and 4 laterally -is multiplied by the differential action of the linksas they approach 'a position of parallelism with the -line of l draft. The resistance lof the draft rigging to bumng and draft is thus increased differentially,l an.r1 the efficiency ofthe device is thereby greatly enhanc .d. The stresses are transmitted from .the draw bar to the'frictional element 3 'independently of the connecting piece l0. l In Fig. 5.1 show a form similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, except that the transverse 'movement of the followers 3 and 4 is resisted by the spring 6 which extends at an angle to the line of draft and between cap plates l2 secured to or cast integrally with these followers. In this case the pulling or buffing strain will not only move one follower longitudinally toward` the other, but will also move one of the followers transversely or laterally of the case through the dierential link action. l This differential link will not only draw the follower across the case, but will increase the pressure through the stroke owing'to its approaching more i nearly a position parallel with the line of draft In Fig. 6 I show a form similar to that of Fig. l, except that instead of the link 10 I employ a bell crank lever 13. This bell crank lever is fulcrumed to the case at 14 and its other arm extends into a hole in the follower 2. By suitably proportioning the arms of this bell crank lever, .theamount of movement of the follower. through different parts of the stroke in buing or -pulling can be proportioned as desired and a diHerential action thus imparted.

As the friction is caused by lateraimovement of the follower, very little longitudinal movement will suffice to secure the required frictional resistance. I can thus use yokes of convenient and reasonable length, and by thus enabling springs of ordinary diameter and capacity to be used with friction devices Without using a 'yoke of unduelength, I obtain new and very useful. advantages.

` Thedevice is self-releasing, and it has the additional merit that when the force of pulling or bufting is re' leved, the spring during the release continues' .its clamping action'upon the follower and shoes 'and by maintaining their rictional contact prevents a violent recoil.

Those ski1led inthe art will be able to modify the construction. and arrangement pf the parts in many ways vwithout departure from my invention. Thus, instead of moving laterally in a` horizontal direction, the links maybe arranged vso as to impart to the movabl'e friction members lateral motion in a-vertical dif `'rectiOIllOl Within the scope'of my broader claims the movable element may be made circular 'in outline and arranged to rotate in afvertc'al.planebetween theshoes,

, the 'grooves in that casebeng made circulan i. A'frctional draft rigging having aspring, an 'end follower, a laterally movable frictional element, and a connecting Ypiece arranged to move the fifictionalelement versely of the case.

30 .4. `A frictional draft rigging having a spring, anI end fol-- transversely during the stroke, said frictiona'lelement be,-l ing interposed in the draftmigging and sulijected to stress thereupon independently lofsaid' connecting piece;

2. 'A' frictionaidraft rigging having sets.`of 'followers,4 one movable relatively to another transversely of the rigging; and a -swinging element arranged todraw one follower -along the-other during the stroke. .I 3. A frictionaldraft rigging having'a spring and a laterally movable frictionai follower and a pivoted element connected to `the follower and arranged to move it translower and three frictional elements, -and a connecting piece arranged to move the middle one between the others transversely tothe line of draft, lsaid. frictional elements of draft.

bar and the spring.

being interposed in the draft rigging and subjected to stress thereupon independently of said connecting piece.

`5. A frictional draft rigging'having a. ser @f foiiwers,

one movable relatively to another'transversely to the line of draft, and a connection between a fixed point and the. movable follower.

' friction elements, and a pivoted link arranged to move the middle one between the others transversely-to the line '9. A draft rigging having a" spring, friction elements, and a differentially acting device 'controlling the friction elements. f l

10.'.A draft rigging having a spring, friction elements, anda differential link.

connection for. the

. 11. A draft -riggin'g having a draw' bar, a spring, a foli lower, and a differential link interposed 12. A frictional draft rigging having a-spring and frictional elements capableof relative motion transversely of thedraft rigging, said frictional elements having faces at right angles to the line of draft, and means for converting a longitudinal motion of the draft rigging into relative transverse mo'tion of said elements.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.`

CLiN'roN A. ToWER.

Witnesses: vHARRrE. Ona,

CHARLES E. Porn.

between the draw v 

